Rom. 12:9-21 Bible Study - Lorin

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Lu. 6:27-28, “27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (NRSV). Thus in following both the teaching and the example that Jesus set, we reach out to our enemies in ‘unnatural’ ways. Sinful humanity reacts typically to opposition by striking back, usually with greater force in order to destroy the enemy. As Paul declared earlier in the ‘theological’ section, “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10, NRSV). God loved us as enemies. As His children we can do no less toward our enemies. This invoking of God’s blessings on persecutors then takes on tangible expression in the following series of admonitions growing out of this core admonition (vv. 15-16), here expressed not as a regular verb but by a series of infinitives and participles in the original text. Two sets of admonitions surface. (1) “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (v. 15, NRSV; caivrein meta; cairovntwn, klaivein meta; klaiovntwn). The context here points toward our relationships with the outsiders and admonishes the expression of sympathy, that is, the ability to feel the same feelings as the other person. In moments of joy by others, we reach out to them in joy; in moments of sorrow we reach out with tears. Not only then are we praying for God to bless our enemies, but we reach out to them in the good and bad in their lives with genuine sharing of their emotions during those moments. What a powerful witness to the love of God at work in us! It won’t be long before those enemies become brothers in this situation. (2) “Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly” (v. 16a, NRSV;to; aujto; eij¿ ajllhvlou¿ fronou÷nte¿, mh; ta; uJyhla; fronou÷nte¿ ajlla; toi÷¿ tapeinoi÷¿ sunapagovmenoi). Again contextually the thrust is toward outsiders, although not excluding those inside the community of faith. Spiritual elitism has no place inside the community of faith, either in attitudes toward each other, or toward non- Christians. When we ask God to bless others, we can’t then turn toward them with a ‘holy Joeism’ that considers them somehow inferior to us. Christianity has often been crippled in its efforts to win others to faith in Christ because it failed to heed what Paul is talking about here. The non-believing world often looks down on Christians as inferior people who have sought refuge in religion to escape their problems and failures. But believers have no justification of reciprocating this elitist attitude by considering the non- believing world as spiritual morons who deserve eternal damnation. Genuine love precludes such attitudes. c. Have the right attitude, vv. 17-20 The Greek NT mh; givnesqe frovnimoi par! eJautoi÷¿. 12:17 mhdeni; kako;n ajnti; kakou÷ ajpodidovnte¿, pronoouvmenoi kala; ejnwvpion pavntwn ajnqrwvpwn: 12:18 eij dunatovn to; ejx uJmw÷n, meta; pavntwn ajnqrwvpwn eijrhneuvonte¿: 12:19 mh; eJautou;¿ ejkdikou÷nte¿, ajgaphtoiv, ajlla; dovte tovpon th÷/ ojrgh÷/, gevgraptai gavr, !Emoi; ejkdivkhsi¿, ejgw; ajntapodwvsw, levgei kuvrio¿. 12:20 ajlla; eja;n peina÷/ oJ ejcqrov¿ sou, ywvmize aujtovn: eja;n diya÷/, povtize aujtovn: tou÷to ga;r poiw÷n a[nqraka¿ puro;¿ swreuvsei¿ ejpi; th;n kefalh;n aujtou÷. NRSV Do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." NLT And don't think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. 19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. 20 Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." Comments: This third section is introduced by a regular verb based admonition: “Do not claim to be wiser than you Page 6 of Rom. 12:9-21 Bible Study
are” (NRSV; mh; givnesqe frovnimoi par! eJautoi÷¿.). The theme of spiritual elitism is continued from the preceding segment by this expression, but the thrust turns inward. We must not form a bloated opinion of ourselves, especially in regard to our spirituality. The New Living Translation captures the essence of the admonition quite well: “And don't think you know it all!” Literally the expression is along the lines of “don’t become wise in your own eyes.” The point contextually here seems to be that we need a healthy self image before we will be able to reach out to others properly and in God’s ways. In order to live in a sinful world and relate to other people properly, the believer must have “his head screwed on properly.” With a distorted perspective of who we are, we will be very inclined to reach out to “those poor pagans” with a phoney piety. Or, as the following admonitions growing out of this ‘header’ admonition suggest, we will sink down to their degenerate level in a tit-for-tatism. Jesus rejected the “eye for an eye” principle in the Old Testament: “38 You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.” (NRSV, Matt. 5:38-42) Paul moves the same direction: “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. 19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God.” (NLT, 17b-19) The five admonitions here underscore the importance of reaching out to others in constructive, relationship building ways if at all possible. These admonitions, especially the last two, are buttressed by Paul’s citing to two Old Testament passages. They follow a chiastic sequence of expression (AB//B’A): A “Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (vv. 17-18) B “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God” (v. 19a) B’ “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. (v. 19b, from Deut. 32:35) A’ “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." (v. 20, from Prov. 25:21-22) This kind of thought structure is very common in both the Old and New Testaments. Thus the Deut. 32 quote reinforces the second set of admonitions, and the Prov. 25 quote supports the first set of admonitions. The point is that when Christians with a proper understanding of who they are before God reach out in constructive ways to others, especially those who are hostile, they are following in the ancient tradition God established with His covenant people Israel. d. Be victorious, v. 21 The Greek NT NRSV NLT 12:21 mh; nikw÷ uJpo; tou÷ kakou÷ 21 Do not be overcome by evil, 21 Don't let evil get the best of you, ajlla; nivka ejn tw÷/ ajgaqw÷/ to; kakovn. but overcome evil with good. but conquer evil by doing good. Comments: This climatic set of negative/positive admonitions returns to the ideas of evil and good. Evil is a powerful presence in our sinful, hostile world and would defeat the community of faith in a heartbeat if allowed to. But it has no claim to victory over us. It achieves victory only if we allow it domination. In contrast, we are admonished to use the good, i.e., what God has defined as right, as the instrument to gain victory over Evil. To the non-Christian, and maybe at times even to us believers, evil seems to be the superior force. Love and doing good are often denigrated as expressions of weakness. But in reality the Good is far more powerful than Evil. Evil tears down and destroys; Good builds up and restores. Evil guts a person’s life into an empty, meaningless shell; Good takes the rotten sinner and makes him/her a child of God. In the end, Good will triumph over Evil when our Lord returns to claim his bride for eternity. Thus presenting ourselves as living sacrifices to God (12:1-2) means that we live in a community of genuine love and engage in actions that build up the community and help that community present the face of God and His grace to the outside non-believing world. As Jesus put it, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:16, NRSV). Page 7 of Rom. 12:9-21 Bible Study
Page 1 and 2: Sunday School Lesson Rom. 12:9-21 b
Page 3 and 4: Because Rom. 12:9-21 is didactic (t
Page 5: come to us as believers and to us a
Page 9: Semantic Diagram of 12:9-21 I. Love

Rom. 12:9-21 Bible Study - Lorin

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